Signature event · 19th year
McKinney Oktoberfest
Presented by
Historic Downtown becomes a Bavarian village for three days: polka bands, Alpine dance troupes and strolling accordions across multiple stages, stein-holding and weenie dog races, a Kinder Korner for the kids. Admission is free, rain or shine.
At a glanceSee you next fall
DatesSept 25 – 27, 2026
AdmissionFree · no ticket
WhereThe square · 111 N. Tennessee
PaymentCards · no ATMs
Fri Sept 25Happy Hour 2–4:30 · Festival 5–11 pm
Sat Sept 2611 am – 11 pm
Sun Sept 27Noon – 5 pm
Everything You Need to Know
Hours & admission
Fri, Sept 25Happy Hour 2 – 4:30 pm
Festival 5 – 11 pm
Festival 5 – 11 pm
Sat, Sept 2611 am – 11 pm
Sun, Sept 27Noon – 5 pm
Free, no ticket, come and go as you like. Alcohol sales stop 30 minutes before close.
Getting there
Two free trolleys · every 15 min
New this year: park at City Hall and ride the Downtown Trolley to the festival, or park at the church as before.
First TrolleyFirst McKinney Baptist Church, 1615 W. Louisiana St. → west side of Mitchell Park on Benge St., between Louisiana and Virginia
Second Trolley · newCity Hall, 401 E Virginia St
Fri4 pm – midnight
Sat10 am – midnight
Sun1 – 6 pm
Rideshare drop-off
Directions to shuttle lot ↗
West side of Mitchell Park on Benge St., between Louisiana and Virginia.
Good to know
$Cards, not cash. No ATMs on site.
✕Leave at home: coolers, backpacks, bag chairs, outside food & drink.
+First Aid, Lost & Found, Lost Children: Tennessee Street side of the Courthouse Theater, 111 N. Tennessee.
♿ADA/wheelchair accessible grounds, with accessible restrooms around the festival grounds; limited ADA parking in city lots.
☂Rain or shine. Leashed dogs welcome. Dirndls encouraged.
Find on the map
Alpine Stage · Blue Box Stage · Bavarian Experience Stage
Gemütlichkeit Games · East Louisiana Street
Kinder Korner, petting zoo, carnival midway
Biergartens · Choctaw VIP Biergarten
Courthouse Theater, Tennessee St. side · First Aid, Lost & Found, Lost Children
Trolley & rideshare · Mitchell Park (Benge St.) and City Hall
Download Map
New this year · Play online
Dachshund Dash
Can't wait for the weenie dog races? Race one down the square on your phone, leave Strudel and Pretzel in the dust, and put your time on the leaderboard.
Play the game →
The real races: Saturday at noon, Sunday at 2 pm
Schedule & stages
What's happening, when, and where
Fri
2:00 – 4:30 pm
Bier
Happy Hour
Festival grounds
Discounted beer pricing, last call at 4:30 pm. Marketplace vendors begin opening during Happy Hour.
Fri
3:00 – 7:30 pm
Music
Strolling accordion musicians
Festival grounds
Greg Klugiewicz and Hannah Swiney
Fri
5:00 pm
Hours
Festival opens
The square
Fri
5:00 pm
Music
The Royal Klobasneks
Blue Box Stage
Fri
5:00 pm
Music
Alpenmusikanten
Alpine Stage
Fri
5:00 pm
Music
Live music
Bavarian Experience Stage
Showing 6 of 74
Set times are from the 2026 entertainment guide and can shift on the day. Contest registration is on Eventbrite ↗.
Bringing kids?
Kinder Korner & the midway
Carnival rides and games, the Westland Ranch petting zoo, crafts, a rock wall and face painting. Select attractions require coupons, sold throughout the festival grounds. Children in strollers are permitted in the VIP Biergarten.
21+ · limited
Choctaw Casinos & Resorts VIP Biergarten
- Private biergarten with specialty beers only poured here
- Exclusive food, live music and VIP restrooms
- Limited-edition swag while supplies last
Contests & activities
Register for events & activities
Stein holding, the weenie dog races, the Beard & Mustache Competition and Meet the Brewmaster all take sign-ups. Registration is on the same Eventbrite page as VIP.
Register on Eventbrite ↗
Ask the festival
Got a question? Type it.
⌕
20 questions, answered
Still stuck?
972-547-2660
contact-mainstreet@mckinneytexas.org
McKinney Main Street · 111 N. Tennessee St.
Do I need a ticket?+
No. Admission is free all weekend and you can come and go — there's no re-entry fee. The VIP Biergarten is the only ticketed area.
What if I still have tickets or coupons from previous years?+
Admission is now ticketless. Some activities (petting zoo, carnival, rock climbing, face painting, bounce houses) still use coupons sold by the activity vendor on site. Previous years' coupons or tickets are not accepted.
Is the festival cashless?+
Most vendors take credit/debit and mobile wallets. Cash may be accepted in limited spots, but card or digital pay is much faster. There are no ATMs.
Can I bring outside food or drinks?+
No. Outside food and beverages are prohibited, including beer and wine. All alcohol sales end 30 minutes before closing.
What are the Meet the Brewmaster events?+
Free sessions to learn about featured beers directly from the brewers, including TUPPS. Limited to the first 30 people who register online; attendees must be 21+.
Can I bring my own chair?+
No. Personal seating including bag chairs isn't allowed. Seating is provided in the stage areas and around the square.
Are there kids' activities?+
Yes. Kinder Korner, a petting zoo, face painting, arts and crafts, a rock climbing wall and a carnival midway with rides for younger guests.
Is there a dress code?+
Shirts, shoes and smiles are required. Dirndls, lederhosen and festive hats are encouraged.
What happens if it rains?+
Oktoberfest is rain or shine. No rain dates are scheduled — plan for changing weather.
Is the festival ADA/wheelchair accessible?+
Yes. The grounds are wheelchair accessible, and accessible restrooms are available around the festival grounds. Limited ADA parking is in City of McKinney free lots, first come first served. Service animals, including those in training, are welcome.
Are pets allowed?+
Yes, on a leash at all times. Please clean up after your pet.
Where is First Aid?+
City of McKinney EMTs are on site. The First Aid Station is on the Tennessee Street side of the Courthouse Theater, 111 N. Tennessee St.
What if parents and children get separated?+
The Lost Children / Lost Parents area is on the Tennessee Street side of the Courthouse Theater, 111 N. Tennessee St.
Where is Lost and Found?+
On the Tennessee Street side of the Courthouse Theater, 111 N. Tennessee St. Items are kept until the festival closes Sunday; afterwards call 972-547-2683.
Where are the restrooms?+
Throughout the festival grounds — locations are marked on the site map.
What items are prohibited?+
Coolers, large bags, backpacks, outside food and drink, contraband, weapons, skateboards, rollerblades, scooters, laser pointers, drones and frisbees. Guests may be subject to search. Unauthorized sales and solicitation are prohibited. By entering you grant permission for event photo and video use.
Where do I park?+
Parking and the shuttle are free. A round-trip shuttle runs from First McKinney Baptist Church, 1615 W. Louisiana St., about every 15 minutes: Fri 4 pm–midnight, Sat 10 am–midnight, Sun 1–6 pm.
Where is rideshare drop-off?+
Lyft and Uber drop-off is on the west side of Mitchell Park along Benge Street, between Louisiana and Virginia.
How do I become a vendor, sponsor or volunteer?+
Vendor, sponsorship and volunteer information is on the Event Opportunities page.
Who organizes the festival, and how do I reach them?+
The City of McKinney – McKinney Main Street. 111 N. Tennessee St. · 972-547-2660 · contact-mainstreet@mckinneytexas.org
2026 sponsors
Become a 2027 sponsor
The people who keep the bier pouring
Stage & area sponsors
Supporting sponsors
Organized & supported by
